Need more power while rolling

Ok, when cruising the other night, I realized that I need more power at the higher ranges. I've noticed this before, but it came intoplay a couple times.

I noticed beofre while cruising with my boy in his mx6 (160hp), that I can easily take him in a drag from a complete stop, but cannot beat him while rolling.

The same thing happened with a vtec civic. KILLED in a drag, but while rolling, he slowly takes me and pulls away.

What can I do about this? I heard header/exhaust gets better hp in high rpm, so im hoping this helps when i get that all done. What else can I do. Please save your turbo remarks for yourself. Thanks all

I wouldn't worry about high end vs low end mods. The basics are mandatory before you worry about RPM ranges. If you think that your high end is weak, shift lower.

That gives a huge gearing dissadvantage though... But Joe is right, the basics come first, and exhaust and header is considered basic. If they move the power band up a bit they will help power at higher speeds and let you retain the torque multiplication of the lower gear a bit longer.

get a turbo. haha, just kidding. custom cams and some mild porting should do the trick but first the basics. intake exhaust headers.

Im working on getting a header and exhaust now. So those are a must. I wont do any porting... too expensive.

Dropping a gear lower would rev alittle too high then IMO. If im in 3rd at 4000rpm, i really dont want to drop it to 2nd.

I dont get that i can kill these cars in a drag from a standing stop. Seems kinda backwards to me. Not complaining

Well my first question is what rpm are you shifting at when dragging.....When i drag i usually shift at around 6200 rpm....works like a charm for me...so what im getting at is do some rev matching, throw it into 2nd and let it rev higher.....when i go at 4000 in 2nd in my esi and drop it into 2nd i have enough power to spin both front tires and kill anyone im racing. (P.S. that was before i supercharged it)......this is all IMO.....to each his own...or her

Aye I've noticed the same in my ESi..if I punch it from about 40 it'll jet, but if youre above 50-60 and you throw it down a gear or two it just doesn't pull enough.

I've been looking at cams, and found some Stage II cams that produce more power in the 2500-7500 RPM range--kind of what are we would be in shifting down like that. That, ontop of I/H/E might do the trick, but I'm busy paying off the repairs on my car so it'll be a while before I get anything done to my engine. :/

The powerband on these cars is not exactly huge. If i floor it from 25 mph, i can jump to 50 no problem. If im doing 40, it takes FOREVER to get to 60. An extra gear would be nice....

I am always having to downshift to get enough power. (Yes I downshift in an auto) After 1st gear, my car is pretty pathetic, unless I'm doing 50 and downshift into 2nd to pass, then its just ok. Hopefully things will change a little in the future...

To sum it up, anything below 4k is really bad, unless your in 1st. Try to time your shifts based on how fast your going. Know about what rpm the motor is running at at a certain mph. (Ex. 4000 rpm at 50 mph in 2nd) That way you can know when you will be able to get ahold of some pickup when you need it....

Damn you need to get that crap switched to manual, much more race-friendly.

I think it would be more productive to spend the $1,200 it would take to do the conversion on something that will actually get me faster...or pay a semester of tuition....either one is fine. An auto is really not that much worse than a manual I don't think. Perfect shift every time, and downshifting is not a problem. Just as quick, if not quicker, than a manual shifting wise. However I do know how to drive a stick. I hate to say it, but I learned in a '91 honda civic that had a bad syncro in 2nd gear, so no matter what it bitched at you when you shifted into 2nd. Not exactly the model car to learn to drive stick, but it worked.

I have no problem dragging, its just while already going, and we decide to punch it is when it takes forever to get up to speed. Even with downshifting. Im going to replace the cams in about July or so, so im hoping thatll work. Still need exhaust 1st.